LDS Freedom Forum

juniper wrote:Read Elder Christoffersons talk from last general conference

How does the Savior reveal His will and doctrine to prophets, seers, and revelators? He may act by messenger or in His own person. He may speak by His own voice or by the voice of the Holy Spirit—a communication of Spirit to spirit that may be expressed in words or in feelings that convey understanding beyond words (see 1 Nephi 17:45; D&C 9:8). He may direct Himself to His servants individually or acting in council (see 3 Nephi 27:1–8).

He controls the Presidency; He chooses them; He determines who they shall be, and the time of their office, in life or in death, and He maintains them. He also determines the position of every Apostle. There never has been an Apostle in this Church that has not been chosen by the direct inspiration of God the Eternal Father. There may not have been a written revelation in every instance; but I say that every Apostle and every man chosen to preside over the Seventies has been selected by the power and inspiration of the Almighty. They are men chosen of God, and trusted with His authority, and He will arrange in regard to their term of office. He has done it from the day of the Prophet Joseph to the present, and He will do it to the end. (Collected Discourses, Vol.5, Francis M. Lyman, April 4, 1897)

ABC News Australia: Interview with President Gordon B. Hinckley wrote:COMPASS
INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT GORDON B. HINCKLEY
Aired: November 09, 1997
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RB: As the world leader of the the Church, how are you in touch with God? Can you explain that for me?
GBH: I pray. I pray to Him. Night and morning. I speak with Him. I think He hears my prayers. As He hears the prayers of others. I think He answers them.

RB: But more than that, because you’re leader of the Church. Do you have a special connection?
GBH: I have a special relationship in terms of the Church as an institution. Yes.

RB: And you receive........
GBH: For the entire Church.

RB: You receive?
GBH: Now we don’t need a lot of continuing revelation. We have a great, basic reservoir of revelation. But if a problem arises, as it does occasionally, a vexatious thing with which we have to deal, we go to the Lord in prayer. We discuss it as a First Presidency and as a Council of the Twelve Apostles. We pray about it and then comes the whisperings of a still small voice. And we know the direction we should take and we proceed accordingly.

RB: And this is a Revelation?
GBH: This is a Revelation.

RB: How often have you received such revelations?
GBH: Oh, I don’t know. I feel satisfied that in some circumstances we’ve had such revelation. It’s a very sacred thing that we don’t like to talk about a lot. A very sacred thing.

Q: But it’s a special experience?
GBH: I think it’s a real thing. It’s a very real thing. And a special experience.
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RB: Now up until 1978 I understand Blacks were not allowed to be priests in your Church?
GBH: That is correct. Although we have Black members of the Church. They felt that they would gain more in this Church than any other with which they were acquainted and they were members of the Church. In 1978 we (the president of the Church) received a revelation under which all worthy men would receive all the blessings of the Church available to them as well as to any others. So across the world now we are teaching the Gospel to Blacks, Whites, everyone else who will listen.

RB: So in retrospect was the Church wrong in that?
GBH: No I don’t think it was wrong. It things, various things happened in different periods. There’s a reason for them.

RB: What was the reason for that?
GBH: I don’t know what the reason was. But I know that we’ve rectified whatever may have appeared to be wrong at that time.
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RB: Is it possible that the rules could change in the future as the rules are on Blacks ?
GBH: He could change them yes. If He were to change them that’s the only way it would happen.

RB: So you’d have to get a revelation?
GBH: Yes. But there’s no agitation for that. We don’t find it. Our women are happy. They’re satisfied. These bright, able, wonderful women who administer their own organization are very happy. Ask them. Ask my wife.
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SF Gate: Interview with GBH wrote:...
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Leading the charge is Gordon B. Hinckley. Now 86, Hinckley has been at the highest levels of Mormon power for more than 35 years.
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Q: What do you see as some of the differences between Mormon theology and other Christian theologies?
A: Well, in the first place, it's the restoration itself. The Catholic Church is here, the Protestant churches are outgrowths from the Catholic Church. We are not part of the Catholic Church, and we're not protesting anything. We say that we are a restoration of the church that existed anciently, and that's the reason we have the name "Latter-day Saints." In the early days of the church, back in the days of the Apostles, they were called saints as Christians. We're the latter-day saints. And that's one thing that's different. Modern revelation. We believe all that God has revealed, all that he does now reveal, we believe he has yet to reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. So, we believe in the principle of continuous revelations.

Q: You are the president, prophet, seer and revelator of the Mormon Church?
A: I am so sustained, yes. (Laughter)

Q: Now, how would that compare to the Catholic Church? Do you see yourself as Catholics would see the pope?
A: Oh, I think in that we're both seen as the head officer of the church, yes.

Q: And this belief in contemporary revelation and prophecy? As the prophet, tell us how that works. How do you receive divine revelation? What does it feel like?
A: Let me say first that we have a great body of revelation, the vast majority of which came from the prophet Joseph Smith. We don't need much revelation. We need to pay more attention to the revelation we've already received.

Now, if a problem should arise on which we don't have an answer, we pray about it, we may fast about it, and it comes. Quietly. Usually no voice of any kind, but just a perception in the mind. I liken it to Elijah's experience. When he sought the Lord, there was a great wind, and the Lord was not in the wind. And there was an earthquake, and the Lord was not in the earthquake. And a fire, and the Lord was not in the fire. But in a still, small voice. Now that's the way it works.
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AussieOi wrote:Yes they can
I would be more surprised if any since Howard W Hunter HAD seen the saviour.
I would be surprised if no one since Joseph Smith had, but wouldn't be overly unsurprised
I think our actions as people leave us pretty well on our own in this regard
I mean, clearly, we aren't listening

dimiwill wrote:President Spenser W. Kimball also spoke with the Savior on more than one occasion back in the 1980s, but I am at NO liberty to reveal my source on this one.

mingano wrote:

dimiwill wrote:President Spencer W. Kimball also spoke with the Savior on more than one occasion back in the 1980s, but I am at NO liberty to reveal my source on this one.

Then it is inappropriate to mention it.

mingano wrote:Jesus is pretty busy - he probably doesn't have time to attend church meetings on a regular basis.

mattctr wrote:Is Jesus bound by dimensional time as we are? :-$

Squally wrote:I have always been taught that the Lord directs this church throught the Prophet. It has been implied and stated quite regularly through my years growing up in the church (seminary, sunday school) that the Savior personally visits with the Prophet to lead and direct His church. Does anyone have any source or statement that our current Prophet has had communion with the Savior (face to face). Or any statements or information on any heavenly manifestations, angelic ministerings, visions, prophecies, thus sayeth the Lord revelations recieved by our current Prophet? If you have any information on this I would appreciate it. Thanks for your help!

coachmarc wrote:

Squally wrote:I have always been taught that the Lord directs this church throught the Prophet. It has been implied and stated quite regularly through my years growing up in the church (seminary, sunday school) that the Savior personally visits with the Prophet to lead and direct His church. Does anyone have any source or statement that our current Prophet has had communion with the Savior (face to face). Or any statements or information on any heavenly manifestations, angelic ministerings, visions, prophecies, thus sayeth the Lord revelations recieved by our current Prophet? If you have any information on this I would appreciate it. Thanks for your help!

The Lord has always communicated through the Spirit. While it is true that prophets have seen the Savior, it is not necessary for Him to appear to our leaders every time there is a revelation to give. The Lord revealed how He does this:

D&C 8:2 Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.

3 Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation; behold, this is the spirit by which Moses brought the children of Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground.

In other words, when the Egyptians had backed Moses and the Israelites against the Red Sea, seemingly to their doom, Jesus Christ did not appear to Moses and tell him to part the waters. He simply spoke to Moses in his mind and heart saying, "smite the waters with your staff," or something similar. Moses, immediately recognizing His voice, obeyed and the rest is history. Today it is the same way. The Lord does not need to appear to our prophet every time there is a revelation to give. Most of D&C was written by Joseph Smith, who, recognizing the Savior's voice, caused His words to be written. The Savior only appeared to Joseph on important occasions. Otherwise, revelation was given as verses 2 and 3 indicate, and it has always been this way.

Zkulptor wrote:I remember a conference with Elder Packer while on my mission.
I was a new convert and asked him if he spoke to God face to Face, if our prophet spoke to Christ Face to face.
He really seemed to enjoy answering that question, but as soon as I asked this there was absolute silence on the room, and many missionaries gave me a look of disapproval. However after he answered my question I think people were glad I asked said question.

mingano wrote:

mattctr wrote:Is Jesus bound by dimensional time as we are? :-$

Excellent question. I've thought about it quite a bit. It seems logical that Jesus can't travel back in time which implies that traveling forward through time would be a bad idea. He can SEE all time, just not jump around through all time.

This further implies that the physical body can exist only in one place at any given moment.

It’s a very sacred thing that we don’t like to talk about a lot. A very sacred thing.

We don't need much revelation. We need to pay more attention to the revelation we've already received.

Gad wrote:

Zkulptor wrote:I remember a conference with Elder Packer while on my mission.
I was a new convert and asked him if he spoke to God face to Face, if our prophet spoke to Christ Face to face.
He really seemed to enjoy answering that question, but as soon as I asked this there was absolute silence on the room, and many missionaries gave me a look of disapproval. However after he answered my question I think people were glad I asked said question.

Well, what was his answer?

Zkulptor wrote:

Gad wrote:

Zkulptor wrote:I remember a conference with Elder Packer while on my mission.
I was a new convert and asked him if he spoke to God face to Face, if our prophet spoke to Christ Face to face.
He really seemed to enjoy answering that question, but as soon as I asked this there was absolute silence on the room, and many missionaries gave me a look of disapproval. However after he answered my question I think people were glad I asked said question.

Well, what was his answer?

He said everything started with prayer, and eventually it led to actually seeing him....